Milking apparatus.



No. 895.208. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

W. SINCLAIR.

MILKING APPARATUS.

q APPLICATION IILBD SEPT. 17, 1901.

V awocutoz: A a 0 A F i l: L Mm MILKING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. f Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

Application filed September 17, 1907. Serial No. 393,360.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WiLLiAii SINCLAIR, of San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful li'nprovemcnts in .\lilking Apparatus; and I hereby declare that the fol owin is a full, clear, and exact description thereo reference benn had to the accompanying drawings, whitili form part of this specification.

This invention is an in'iprovenient in inilking apparatus and its object is to produce a more perfect imitation of hand milking, or of the calfs sucking so that there will be less liability of injury to the cows teats; and to simplify the construction of such apparatus, and to enable milk to be discharged directly into the ordinary transporting cans if desired. 7

The invention comprises (1) novel suction controlling device or suction intermitter cs1 shall term it for regulating the'aetion of each set of teat-cups or milking devices; and (2) a novel device for connecting the main suction pipe to the receivin cans, so that the milk can be-discharged tiei'einto without loss of vacuum.

I will now describe the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and refer to the claims for summaries of the parts for which protection is desired.

In said. drawings: Figure 1 is a diagramniatical )lan view of a portion of the coin )lete milking apparatus. Fig. .2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the suction int'erniitter. Fig. 3 is a vertical section theret-hrough. Fig. 4 is an enlarged scctional view of the connection between the discharge pipe and can.

The complete milking apparatusgcncrally speaking-comprises a main suction pipe A which is connected to any suitable exhausting apparatus or pump B and is usually located in a room adjacent. to that in which the cows are confined during the milking operation. To the pi e A are c mncctcd branch pipes C; the num er of such l)lil.ll(.ll l )l])l)S depending upon the maximum capacity of the apparatus or number of cows to bc milked simultaneously.

These pipes preferably 0);- tciid directly through the wall W separating the milking room mm the receiving room, and are provided with valves c which can be closed when the branches are not in use or while adjusting the milking devices. To

devices by means of t each of these branch ipcs C can be dctach-.

ably connected a flexi le hose (1 to which the tcat cups or milkipg devices 1) are attached.

The particular construction of the milking devices or teat-cups forms no part of the (3;

presentinvention and any preferred construction thereof adapted to be operated by suction can be used.

Customaril a vacuum of about 15 inches is maintainer in the pipes A and C so that 65 when the milking devices are applied to the cows udder the milk will be withdrawn a d directed through )ipcs C and A into cans i, which are preferably connected with pipe A intermediate the branches C and the pum B, by my novel connecting-device hereinaiter explained. 4

The particular object of my invention is to produce an intermittent sticking action on the teats by alternately admitting'air and exhausting it from the ipe d of the milking lie novel suction iiiterinitter preferablyinserted in each pipe C between the )ipe A and valve c; said suction interinittcis being constructed alike, the description of one will explain all.

Within a section 1 of pipe C is placed a piston 2 and apertures l and 1 are made in section 1 near the opposite ends of the piston, said apertures connecting with the ends of a by-pass )i e 3 through which the milk passes arountl tlie piston. Near port ,1" is an air port I normally closed by the piston. The piston is adapted to be reeipi'ocatcd by mc:ins of a pitman 4", connector with a pin 2 atlacliei to the piston and projecting through a slot 1"1n the side of section 1, the pitman 4* being connected to a crank 4" on the crank-shaft 4 as indicated in Fig. l, which shaft maybe operated by any suitable motor.

When the piston is fully moved to the right as indicated in Fig. 3, it closes ort 1 and uncovers an air port 1 by which air is admitted to the flow into the pipe C and hose d between the vacuum intermittor and the teat-cups. When the piston 2 moves to the left it closes the air port 1 and then uncoveis port 1 inunediately reestablishing a vacuum in the pipe 1) and the teat-cups, and

the milk will then flow around the piston through the by-pass pipe 3 as indicated in Fig. 2.

By properly regulating-the length and" time of reciprocations of the piston and th positions of the p0rts'1'ai1d 1 the desire 110-- intermittent suction can be obtained in the teat-cups while a constant suction is 'maintained in the pipe A; and thus a regular-intermittent sucking action is obtained on the teats instead of a constant suction thereonthus the effectiveness of the apparatus is v i s greatly ennanced and there is less (llSCOlll- 2 sorted in the length of pipe C.

In order to discharge milk from ipe A into ordinary cans or receptacles E, mscrt mthe said pipe at the proper points, see Fig.

' 4, delivery valves, the casings 6 of which are connected to the pipe A by means of detachable cou lings 6 of any suitable construction. The casings 6 are provided with a depending cylinder 6 to the lower end of which 18 secured a cap 7 corresponding in form to the ordinary can cover, and adapted to be inserted like a can cover into the mouth of the can E see Fig. 4 and said cap is provided with a rubber gasket 7 adapted to form an air-tight joint between the cap 7 and the flange c around the mouth of the can. In the lower part. of the cylinder 6" is closely fitted a slidable tube 8 which is upheld and retained in the cylinder by any suitable means, such as pins 8 extending through slots 6 in the side of the cylinder. Suspendcd from tube 8 by means of a cross pin 9 is a conical valve 9 which is ada )tcd to open outwardly by gravity when the tube is in its lowest position (as shown in full lines in Fig. 4), and will allow the milk to enter the can, the milk being directed downward into the can by a deflecting rib 6" in the val vc casing, as shown in Fig. 4, by which rib the milk is directed into the can and when the vacuum in the pipe rises the valve will close under the suction without the vacuum being broken.

When it is desired to remove a can E oi substitute an empty can therefor, the valve 9 can be raised by lit ting tube 8 by means of pins 8 to the )osition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Naive 9 then closes the cylinder and being held closed when the cap is separated l'rom the can by the suction in pi e A.

When a can E is put in position the va V0 9 can he opened by forcibly depressing tube 8 by means of pins 8. With this device the milking operation does not have to be stopped in order to remove filled cans or connect empty ones to the suction pipe.

'lhe suction intermitter and delivery valves can l) --l02tll$0tl by circulating water through them as easily as any other )OIilOl'lS of the apparatus, and do not have to e taken down or taken apart for cleansing.

Having described my inventionwhat I claim iis new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In dmiiking apparatus thecoinbination i of a main suction pipe, a milk pipe valve cas-.

ing dctachably connected to said pipes and having a cylindrical portion intermedlate said pipes, a cap-plate connected to the 'lower end of said cylinder and provided with a gasket adapted to close the mouth of a can,-

and a deflector in said casing adapted to di-' rect incoming milk downwardly into the can without stopping the vacuum, a tube slidably fitted in the c linder and a valve suspended irom said tube.

2. 'In a milking apparatus, the combina-- tion of a suction pipe having an'air inlet, and means for creating a snctlon at one end of seal pipe, and a reciprocatory piston adapted to open and close the air inlet; with abranch pipe having its ends connected to the suction pipe on opposite sides of said air inlet and forming a by-pass around the inlet, said piston being adapted to alternately open and close the by-pass, said air inlet being uncovered by said piston when theby-pass is closed, and said air inlet being located at the side of the piston remote-drom the suction means.

3. In a milking ap aratus, the combination of a suction pipe raving an air inlet intermediate its ends, means for creating a vacuum connected with one end of said pipe, er

and a milking device connected to the 0t end thereofi; with a by-pass pipe having its ends connected to the suction pipe at oppo- -x site sides of said air inlet, and a reclprocatmg piston adapted to close and uncloso the bypass pipe and the air inlet, and to admit air into the portion of the suction pipe connecting with the teat-cups when the by-pass pipe is closed. 4. In a milking apparatus, the combine.-

tion of a suction pipe having an air inlet,:

means for maintaining suction in said pipe and a milking device connected with sai )ipe; with a suction intermitter cornprisim a y-pass pipe having its ends connected to t e suction pipe at opposite sides of said air inlet, and a piston in said suction pipeadjacent the air inlet, said by-pass and air inlet being alternately opened and closed by said piston, and said air inlet being so located relative to the piston that when open air is admitted to that part of the suction pipe. between the teat cups and the piston, and means for reciproeatin the piston;

5. In a milking apparatus, the combination of a suction pipe, and a. milk pipe, with a valve casing connected to said pipes and having-"a. depending cylinder intermediate its connections to said pipe, an adjustable valve in the lower part 0f the cylinder, and a} curved-deflector n the valve easing above j the cylinder and intermediate the said pipes adapted 5 ing from the milk pipe cylinder mid manually operated means whereb) the valve may be adjusted, SUI)", stnntiall as described (5. Ill :1 milking apparatus, the eombinw,

10 tien of a suction pipe,

easing connected to $21 depending cylinder intermediate its eonnee a cap on the lower end of titthe mouth of a i tiuns to said pipe,

said cylinder adapted to t0 detleet the milk enttring themsdmvnn'ardlv into the d a milk pipe, with 3 id pipes and having a i \Yitfllly into the cylinder, and manually o two witnesses.

WILLIAM SINCLAIR.

Witnesses:

Tns. Axesnsnm- Join: BOLTON. 

